Master Gardener Program

Services

The trained volunteers of the UC Master Gardener Program extend the services of your local Cooperative Extension advisors by providing practical and accurate horticultural information to home gardeners.

Master Gardener Help Desk

UC Master Gardeners staff a help desk and phone help line serving Mariposa, Greeley Hill, Coulterville and Lake Don Pedro. Our volunteer staff promotes successful and sustainable gardening practices by providing home gardeners with research based information from the University of California and other academic or government institutions. The staff has access to an extensive library, University of California Agricultural Advisors, university internet sites and a microscope for researching home gardening problems. Home gardeners can bring their questions or specimens to the Help Desk or contact the Hotline by phone or email.

In addition gardeners may bring their questions to the Master Gardener Booth at the Farmers Market, the first Wednesday of each month May to October, 5 - 6:30

Events and Community Projects

Mariposa Creek Parkway Demonstration Garden

Mariposa Master Gardeners developed and maintain a demonstration garden of California native plants along the path of the Mariposa Creek Parkway on Stroming Road, between 6th and 8th Streets. The purpose of the garden is to demonstrate the beauty and hardiness of California native plants in home landscaping. Most of the plants in this garden are drought tolerant, attract birds and butterflies and are unattractive to deer.

Many plant species and varieties are labeled and a brochure for self-guidance will soon be available online and in a literature box attached to the permanent signage at 8th Street. Take a stroll down the path and see Flannel Bush, Leopard Lily, Buckeye, Western Columbine, Western Blue Flax, Emerald Carpet Manzanita, Redbud and many others. Funding was provided by the Elvenia J. Slosson Endowment Fund, which is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the science and practice of horticulture, particularly including ornamental horticulture for the home gardener.

Plant & Garden Art Sales

Twice each year, the Mariposa Master Gardeners present a one day plant and garden art sale. These sales offer unbelievably low prices and access to plants suited to our local climate and often varieties that are difficult to find at a commercial nursery.

This year the 2018 Spring Sale is Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out) and offers a large selection of annuals, perennials, natives, vegetables, heirlooms and hard to find varieties. The event also includes beautiful garden art handmade by our local Master Gardeners. The sale takes place at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Road, in the Amigo Picnic Area.

The Fall sale is held on thefirst Saturday in October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event features perennials, fall and winter vegetables, California natives and succulents, as well as garden art and other surprises. The sale takes place at the Coulterville Firehouse Creekside Garden at the intersection of highways J132 and 49 in Coulterville.

Spring Garden Tour

Saturday, May 19, 2018, the public is invited to tour five very special home gardens. Master Gardener docents will be on hand at each location to answer your gardening questions. Brochures will be available at each location to guide you through your walk and identify the plants.

Enjoy the unique features in each garden and discover what can be grown at various elevations and in the different microclimates in the County.

Mariposa County Fair Horticulture Building

The Mariposa County Fair Labor Day Weekend is a labor of love for Master Gardeners who perform docent duties in the fruit, vegetable and floral judging building (downstairs from the food judging building) from opening to closing every day of the fair. Master Gardener docents talk about the displays and answer home gardening questions.

Information Booth at the Farmers' Market

Master Gardeners man an information booth at the Mariposa Farmers' Market the first Wednesday of each month May to October, 5 - 6:30. Gardening subjects and displays change each month and coincide with seasonal changes. Located at the Sixth Street parking lot on Stroming Road adjacent to the Mariposa Creek Parkway.

Ag Day in the Classroom

Each year Mariposa Master Gardeners participate in Ag Day in the Classroom in collaboration with the local 4H Program Coordinator and Farm Advisor. The program is tailored to the specific needs of each particular school but generally focuses on planting seeds, appreciating the purpose of bees (through a reinactment by the children) and making pumpkin pie in a bag.